GrowCFO Show Kevin Appleby

Greg Kautz and Kevin Appleby discussed the challenges of lease accounting and the need for technology to streamline these processes. Greg highlighted the benefits of automating lease accounting, while Appleby questioned the need for separate accounting rules for lessees and lessors. Later, the pair discussed the benefits of leasing assets for business growth, emphasizing the importance of considering leasing as an option for expansion. Finally, they discussed the challenges of fundraising in the current market, with Greg sharing their company's journey and Appleby providing insights on market conditions.







Key topics covered include:









* Greg Kautz's career transition from finance leadership roles to co-founding a lease accounting software company with his son







* An overview of the lease accounting software they developed called Black Owl Lease Accounting, which aims to solve issues with existing solutions







* A discussion of lease accounting standards and why lease accounting is important for businesses







* How they developed the initial prototype, hired staff, and grew the company







* Challenges they faced finding the right technical staff







* Their plans for future fundraising, global expansion, and growth of the company







* Reminiscing about the early days of accounting before technology from Kevin Appleby and Greg Kautz's perspective









https://youtu.be/gCOyz10LBp4







Links









* Greg Kautz on LinkedIn







* Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn







* GrowCFO Mentoring









Timestamps









* 0:00 - Introduction of Greg Kautz and his career transition







* 4:20 - Overview of lease accounting software Black Owl Lease Accounting







* 7:30 - Discussion of lease accounting standards and importance for businesses







* 11:00 - Developing the initial prototype and hiring staff







* 14:15 - Challenges finding the right technical staff







* 17:10 - Future fundraising plans and market growth







* 19:50 - Reminiscing about early accounting days before technology







* 26:50 - Selling the software to CFOs and other buyers







* 29:15 - Greg Kautz's future plans and not retiring anytime soon









Find out more about GrowCFO







If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.







GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 







Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit.

Catherine Clark and Kevin Appleby discussed the importance of addressing personal and professional growth through holistic mentoring, emphasizing the role of emotional intelligence in decision making and relationship dynamics in business. Catherine is head of mentoring at GrowCFO. She frequently supports her mentees when they need to have a difficult conversation.







Key topics covered include:









* Catherine Clark's holistic approach to mentoring, which involves unlocking a mentee's personal potential and limiting beliefs to enable professional success.







* The importance of self-care, resilience, and mindfulness for professionals, and creating recovery time and daily routines to stay balanced.







* Active listening techniques and authentic relating that Kevin and Catherine apply in their consulting and mentoring work.







* The value of meditation, reflection, and forgiveness in personal growth and accessing inner wisdom and creativity.







* Finding gratitude even in past struggles and applying lessons learned.







* Catherine Clark's journey with Reiki and emphasizing energetic connection and self-healing.







* Strategies for starting the day in a calm, focused state through activities like meditation and dog walks to boost productivity.











https://youtu.be/7EsU8F9mTuQ









Links









* Catherine Clark on LinkedIn







* Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn







* GrowCFO Mentoring









Timestamps









* Mentoring and unlocking personal potential for professional success. 0:11











* The importance of self-care, resilience, and mindfulness in professional settings. 7:26











* Mentoring, coaching, and personal growth. 15:41











* Personal growth, energy, and gratitude. 23:07











* Meditation, mindfulness, and productivity. 27:38









Find out more about GrowCFO







If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.







GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 







Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 







You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Stephen Campbell, founder and chief solution architect at MacroFin, joins Kevin Appleby to discuss best practices for ERP implementation success. They share their experiences transitioning from accounting to technology consulting and implementation. Key topics covered include:









* Common challenges clients face when outgrowing systems like Xero and the decision process for selecting a new ERP







* Best practices for vendor selection and simplifying often lengthy and complex RFP processes







* Tips for effective project scoping and limiting implementation risks through shorter 90-day phases







* Emphasis on user training and testing to ensure knowledge transfer and benefits realization







* Advice on identifying super users and continual process improvement post go-live







* Perspectives on technology hype vs reality and potential for streamlining accounting through automation







* High failure rates of ERP projects and how to avoid pitfalls through proper preparation and change management









Stephen will present on delivering impactful finance transformations at the upcoming GrowCFO Global Finance Summit on May 16th.









https://youtu.be/cMtkZHhmNYw









Links









* Stephen Campbell on LinkedIn







* Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn







* MacroFin







* GrowCFO Finance Transformation Bootcamp







* GrowCFO Global Finance Summit









Timestamps







Introducing Stephen Campbell and MacroFin (0:11)







ERP implementation best practices and process reviews. (5:08)







Choosing an ERP system for growing businesses, focusing on NetSuite and Xero. (9:18)







The importance of simplifying the RFP process (13:24)







Implementing NetSuite ERP system with a focus on knowledge transfer and testing. (17:56)







Streamlining accounting processes with technology. (23:06)







ERP implementation challenges and best practices. (27:35)







Implementing NetSuite ERP system with a focus on process improvement and vendor selection. (31:35)







Find out more about GrowCFO







If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.







GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 







Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here.

Timothee Clement. USA Country Manager at Agicap joins Kevin Appleby on the GrowCFO Show as they discuss the business case for introducing specialist cash flow forecasting technology. Timothee is a returning guest, he discussed implementing cash flow forecasting in episode 119. In this episode he discussed the business case for investing in cash flow forecasting technology with podcast host Kevin Appleby.







Timothy explained how most companies still rely on error-prone spreadsheets due to the complexity of forecasting. This leads to inaccurate projections and a lack of visibility. By freeing up time spent on manual processes, finance teams can focus on optimizing cash flow through more accurate forecasting.







Kevin and Timothee evaluated the ROI of implementing a specialized system like Agicap. Costs are low compared to labor savings. Benefits include interest savings, investment gains, and allowing finance to partner strategically. ERP systems aren't designed for flexibility and scenarios required for forecasting.







They explored implementation process and timeline. Connecting data sources is quick due to open banking. Training occurs throughout. Risks include lack of stakeholder buy-in, so change management is crucial. Overall, a compelling case emerged for digital transformation in this area to empower finance teams.







Timothee Clement is a featured speaker at the GrowCFO Global Finance Summit on 15/16 May 2024









https://youtu.be/o_xZMi7XOAQ









Links









* Timothee Clement on LinkedIn







* Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn







* Agicap cash flow management software







* GrowCFO Show #119: How to Implement a Cashflow Forecasting system with Timothee Clement,







* GrowCFO Global Finance Summit









Timestamps







Introducing the business case for cash flow technology(0:11)







Optimizing cash flow and reducing costs through advanced forecasting. (4:13)







Improving financial decision-making? (10:21)







What implementation options are available. (18:32)







Managing the digital transformation (26:29)







Find out more about GrowCFO







If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.







GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 







Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit.

Randy Wootton is an experienced technology executive with over 20 years of experience in corporate leadership roles. He joins Kevin Appleby as a guest on the GrowCFO Show ahead of appearing as a panellist at the GrowCFO Global Finance Summit. He has served as CEO of three startups: Rocket Fuel, Percolate, and Maxio. Randy spent 8 years in the U.S. Navy before transitioning to the corporate sector with Microsoft and Salesforce. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master's in Great Books.







At Maxio, Randy leads a business that helps B2B SaaS companies unlock their next stage of growth. Maxio's Billing and Financial operations platform is designed to meet the unique financial challenges of B2B SaaS companies. This includes billing, subscription management, revenue and expense recognition, and SaaS analytics.







Throughout his career, Randy has developed expertise in go-to-market strategies and helping technology companies scale. He advocates using AI to transform industries like marketing, finance, and accounting. He is passionate about leveraging technology to solve business problems and drive efficiency.







In conversation with Kevin, Randy discussed his experiences with AI and machine learning, including using it at a previous company for programmatic advertising. He shared how he now uses AI tools like ChatGPT to research and write articles. Randy and Kevin also discussed AI's potential impacts on industries like content creation, accounting, and finance. Specifically, they touched on how AI could address labor shortages in accounting by automating data processing and freeing up professionals for higher-level work.







Randy and Kevin outlined future AI use cases and will expand on these at the upcoming GrowCFO global finance summit. Previous podcast guest Aneal Vallarupali, CFO at Airbase also features in this session.









https://youtu.be/Aqahr5LvetA









Links









* Randy Wootton on LinkedIn







* Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn







* Maxio







* GrowCFO Show #171: What’s in Store for Fintech in 2024 with Aneal Vallurupalli, CFO at Airbase







* GrowCFO Global Finance Summit









Timestamps







Career progression from military to CEO of 3 startups. (0:10)







AI and business leadership with a seasoned CEO. (2:19)







AI's impact on content creation, including the use of chatbots for research and writing. (7:03)







AI's impact on the accounting profession, including automation, labour shortages, and new roles. (12:07)







Charting the Future: Expert Perspectives on Finance and AI Trends at the Global Finance Summit (17:44)







Find out more about GrowCFO







If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, a href="https://open.spotify.

Chris Tredwell joins regular host Kevin Appleby on the GrowCFO Show. Chris is the Chief Sales Officer at ERP software provider Aqilla. Chris leads GrowCFO's Future of the Finance Function series of webinars and will be presenting the opening keynote at the upcoming Global Finance Summit on 15-16 May 2024.







Aqilla is a mid-market, Cloud-based, Accounting / Postmodern ERP solution that sits above well-known entry-level SME products such as Xero, Quickbooks and Sage. It has the capabilities of products like SunSystems (Infor FMS), SAP Business One, Netsuite, Microsoft Dynamics, Intacct and many others but at a fraction of the complexity and cost.







Chris and Kevin discussed how AI and automation are rapidly changing the finance function. They talked about the limitations of legacy on-premise accounting software and how modern cloud-based solutions are needed to take advantage of new technologies.







Speeding up month-end close remains a challenge for most businesses, and Chris and Kevin believe this is the biggest opportunity for automation in finance.







They emphasized the importance of real-time data access and analytics to drive better business decision-making. They also discussed the importance of benchmarking processes, having a single source of truth for data, and focusing on a few key actionable insights rather than excessive data









https://youtu.be/llPpRcJtsps









Links









* Chris Tredwell on LinkedIn







* Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn







* Aqilla







* GrowCFO Global Finance Summit









Timestamps







The Global Finance Summit. (0:11)







Cloud-based accounting software for mid-market businesses. (3:25)







Modernizing finance software for efficiency and time savings. (9:08)







AI in finance, automating tasks and improving accuracy. (13:58)







Focussing on real-time data and decision-making. (18:32)







Data accuracy and a single source of truth in business reporting. (23:24)







Modernizing finance functions with a focus on technology and automation. (28:17)







Find out more about GrowCFO







If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.







GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. 







Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. 







You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net